Amman, Nov. 30 (Petra) -- Tourism experts and sector stakeholders say the "Amra City" development is poised to become one of Jordan’s most significant tourism projects, strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for conference and leisure tourism. They expect the project’s diverse components to broaden Jordan’s tourism product and raise its competitiveness in attracting visitors and international events.

Experts told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the project offers an exceptional investment opportunity capable of drawing domestic and foreign investments to high-potential sectors, including entertainment, conference tourism, hospitality, and cultural activities. Integrating these elements, they noted, will support Jordan’s ability to host major global exhibitions and events and expand its visitor base.

They added that the scale of expected investment in "Amra City" will help establish a sustainable tourism ecosystem in eastern Jordan by creating long-term job opportunities for young people and stimulating supporting sectors such as transport, restaurants, retail, and services, contributing to broader economic benefits across the Kingdom.

A centerpiece of the project is the International Exhibition and Convention Center, designed to serve as a key driver for business and conference tourism and to accommodate large-scale international events and specialized exhibitions. The project also includes a fully integrated entertainment city scheduled for completion in 2028, offering world-class family and visitor facilities, along with modern museums, technology and education centers, and an expansive environmental park.

Tourism expert Dr. Ibrahim Al-Kurdi from the University of Jordan’s Aqaba branch said the project marks "a turning point" for tourism development in Jordan, creating a modern urban destination that complements the archaeological and natural sites surrounding the area. Its proximity to the historic desert castles, he said, offers an opportunity to connect visitors with both heritage and contemporary attractions.

Al-Kurdi noted that creating a new tourism axis that combines cultural and entertainment tourism will help extend visitor stays, increase spending, and strengthen Jordan’s position as an advanced tourism destination in the region. He added that the entertainment city will provide a full family tourism product capable of attracting regional markets and boosting domestic tourism.

He emphasized that the planned convention center will firmly position Jordan on the conference tourism map by attracting major international events, which in turn will benefit the lodging, dining, transport, and logistics sectors.

President of the Jordan Tourism and Travel Agents Association Mahmoud Al-Khasawneh said the project will significantly boost tourist flow to eastern Jordan, a region long overlooked despite its rich historical and natural assets. He said modern infrastructure and large-scale tourism projects in the area will encourage travel companies to design new itineraries linking eastern Amman, the desert castles, and nearby natural attractions.

Al-Khasawneh added that the project provides wide opportunities for tourism companies to develop products targeting families, conference participants, and youth groups, noting that enhanced commercial and service facilities will allow agencies to market the area as a comprehensive tourism destination.

President of the Jordan Tour Guides Association Ayman Omar said the project’s location near Quseir Amra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will help revive the cultural tourism route of the desert castles and increase organized tours to the area. He said improved services and attractions will enable tour guides to deliver richer historical experiences, especially with the expected rise in visitor numbers after the project’s completion.

Director General of the Jordanian Businessmen Association Tareq Hijazi said Jordan’s efforts to strengthen its position as a global tourism destination require attracting international investments in integrated entertainment cities, which offer promising economic returns. Studies, he noted, indicate that entertainment tourism represents 40 percent of global tourism spending and can deliver significant growth for the sector.

Hijazi added that entertainment tourism generates indirect jobs in transport and hospitality, increases foreign reserves, improves living standards, and supports traditional and cultural industries, ultimately boosting government revenues. He said this requires parallel investment in infrastructure, which the government is currently advancing through several major projects.

//Petra// RZ